Yankees Rumors: Longtime desired trade candidate could hit market, but it's too late

Over the offseason, one of the moves fans were clamoring for the New York Yankees to make was to bring in an upgrade, or at least some competition, for Anthony Volpe at shortstop. The only problem was that the free-agent market didn't present any clear solutions, and the trade market was pretty bare, except for one name: Corey Seager.

Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he hit .271/.373/.487 with 21 homers over only 102 games, it didn't seem like it would take much to acquire Seager, especially considering the bloated nature of the long-term commitment to the oft-injured superstar and the Rangers' mandate to cut payroll.

In fact, Rangers insider Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported last December that the Yankees were one of three teams to inquire about Seager, but when the New York Mets came calling with their proposed swap of Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien, Texas pulled Seager from the trade block.

Now, with the August 3 trade deadline approaching, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) is reporting that Seager could be dangled once again, but only if the Rangers fall out of the playoff race.

Texas plays in the most mediocre division in the most mediocre league in the MLB, and as such, its 47-46 record has the club sitting in first place in the AL West. Things are so bunched up, though, that a bad week could have drastic consequences.

There's a litany of reasons why the Yankees shouldn't be tempted to trade for Corey Seager

Assuming the Rangers end up selling at the deadline, the Yankees shouldn't be lured into dealing for Seager. The two-time World Series MVP might seem tempting, especially in light of the latest Anthony Volpe controversy, but making a deal would be falling into a trap.

Seager is owed a lot of money, $155 million over the next five seasons, which in and of itself is enough to give New York pause. He's also hitting just .182/.292/.374 on the year, but that's not even the most concerning part.

The 32-year-old is in the midst of his third IL stint of the season, but two of those times he's been laid up with what has been described as "lower back inflammation." What is causing that inflammation and whether or not it's a chronic issue is unknown, but it's not a good look to see the same injury crop up twice.

In between those back-related trips to the injured list, Seager also missed 12 games due to a concussion, which was a result of his own lack of hustle. During a June 11 matchup against the Kansas City Royals, Seager did not run hard while rounding the bases after a Brandon Nimmo double, leading to an unnecessary collision at the plate with Royals catcher Carter Jensen.

Think about how Yankees fans have reacted to Anthony Volpe's gaffes and then consider what the sentiment would be like if he were making nearly 10 times the money, as would be the case with Seager. The Rangers shortstop would be raked over the coals mercilessly if such a clear lack of effort occurred here.

There's a chance the Rangers could look to move Seager even if they stay in the race. Those on the Rangers beat have noted the palpable sense of frustration and uncertainty regarding Seager's return to action, and it's led to larger questions around Arlington as to his long-term future.

Seager's value is clearly at an all-time low, but there are still financial incentives for Texas to move on. The clock is ticking on the viability of that path, however. Seager's contract includes a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block trades to eight teams, but if he finishes the year with the Rangers, he'll become a 10-5 player (10 years in the league, five with his current team) and gain full veto power.

The 2026 deadline then represents the Rangers' last off-ramp, and if they were willing to eat some of the money Seager is owed, it could be a siren song for contending teams. The infield trade market is weak, so despite his struggles, Seager would represent one of the better options.

Last year's deadline deal that sent Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins back to the Houston Astros could be a blueprint for how Texas eating money would work. The Twins sent $33 million to Houston to cover just over a third of the $96 million Correa is owed. If the Rangers followed suit, that would mean covering around $50 million of Seager's contract.

Even at that price, the Yankees would be on the hook for about $20 million a year over the next five years. That's a lot of money to pay, and they can't exactly afford to have another hefty salary clogging the books while the owner of said salary languishes on the IL (see: Stanton, Giancarlo). So while Seager is an exciting name with a pedigree, a history of postseason excellence, and plays a position of need, New York needs to stay very far away.

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